CORAL REEFS Almost every one of us have heard and most of you have seen the Coral reefs but did you know what actually these are: As a mariner its important to know about the marine life, that was one reason I have chosen this topic for my today’s short presentation. GM, my scheme of presentation will be as flashed: DEFINATION OF CORAL REEF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CORAL AND CORAL POLYP WHERE WE CAN FIND CORAL CONSTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH OF CORAL REEFS TYPES OF CORAL REEFS THREAT
The Coral Reefs Can we save “Tropical Rain Forests of the Ocean”? Anyone who’s ever scuba dived at a coral reef and seen the perfect handprint of dead coral can appreciate how fragile and delicate this ecosystem is. Coral reefs are not just rock, like some people believe, but are an animal. Corals are a type of animal called a polyp, the simplest of predators that eat meat in the form of drifting zooplankton…all corals have boarders, zillions of microscopic, one-celled plants called zooxanthellae
Coral Reefs Coral reefs are one of the oldest types of living systems on earth, and certainly one of the most spectacular (Goreau, 1987). They are massive underwater structures formed by the limestone skeletons of tiny invertebrate animals. Reefs house a greater diversity of body forms, chemistry, and animal phyla (thirty-two compared to the eight that inhabit the most biodiversity ecosystems on land). Phyla comprise the second largest category of living things, after kingdoms. Coral animals
Maintaining Marine Reef Aquarium Important Aspects in Maintaining a Marine Reef Aquarium There is something fascinating and relaxing in having an aquarium in a home. Like a fireplace’s warm glow and bright colors, the colors that are emitted from an aquarium can be just as warm and even more colorful. From the slow and graceful movement of the fish to the frantic feeding frenzy, an aquarium is different each time it is viewed. Although a freshwater tank can be full or color, it does not
Thesis: When an artificial reef is made many just see trash going into the sea, however there are positive benefits that come from the making of the reef. Perhaps the most obvious benefit of an artificial reef is the creation of a new community for aquatic creatures to live. It is like a developer going out to sea and making a new subdivision out there for fish. This creation of an artificial reef is the most natural way to protect the marine habitat, by providing shelter, a source of food, and
1.0 INTRODUCTION Reefs in their simplest form are composed of rock, coral or sand and are made through an abiotic, biotic, or man-made process. Much like canyons, most reefs are made through an abiotic process. They are naturally made from deposition and erosion caused by waves and other environmental factors. Some of the most popular forms of reefs are coral reefs which are created through a biotic, not to be confused with abiotic, process. Coral reefs are located in tropical waters and are developed
Coral Reefs What are Coral Reefs? Coral reefs are said to be the foundation for many marine species, and are a crucial support for human life. The coral reef ecosystem is an a diverse collection of species that interact with each other and the physical environment. Coral reefs are the homes of many species including crabs, shrimp, oysters, and clams, foods eaten by humans on a daily basis. Coral reefs are among the most diverse and biologically complex ecosystems on earth, supporting 33%
Abstract Located in tropical ocean waters, coral reefs provide priceless resources to both human and marine life. The leading natural cause of destruction among the coral reefs is global warming. Other natural causes are earthquakes, hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons. The destruction to the coral reefs from these natural disasters is minimal compared to the dangers caused by man. Man-made destruction has a much wider impact on the health of the coral reefs. This destruction includes over-fishing, damage
The magnificent coral reefs that tease the delight of our minds; this is the world as we wish it would always be. In this great carnival of life, thousands of colorful characters co-exist, diversity strengthens the coral reefs. These underwater playgrounds are built by hard corals which produce limestone and turn it into homes. How wonderful that the largest living structures on earth are built by tiny animals! Coral reefs are essential spawning, nursery, breeding, and feeding grounds for numerous
sea’s coast, benefiting from the environmental assets provided by coral reefs on the shore. The reefs house roughly 1/3 of all marine fish species, creating “biodiversity hotspots that generate an estimated $30 billion a year in revenue, mostly from fisheries and tourism” (Pennisi). It is estimated that some 500 million people depend on coral reefs in some way, with close to 30 million entirely dependent on the benefits of the reefs. But, keeping to the trend of irony in this world, one of the world’s
Coral Reefs Decaying All over the world coral reefs play an important part in our environment. Not only are the reefs colorful and beautiful to look at but the coral reefs house several different types of fish and other sea creatures. Coral reefs have started to decline over the years due to “climate change, El Nino events, overfishing, pollution and other pressures” (Newnham 1). A healthy coral reef can also collapse due to a natural disaster (Newnham 2). There can be several different reasons
Coral reefs are well known for their colorful array of marvelous sights including a parade of exotic flora and fauna. They are said to be the foundation for a quarter of marine species, and are a crucial support for human life as well. The coral reef ecosystem is a diverse collection of species (ranging from microscopic to larger-than-life in size) that interact with each other and their physical environment. If any piece of a coral reef is harmed or removed the entire community can be seriously
Coral reefs are one of the main sources of oxygen on the planet, and they produce half of the oxygen in the whole world. Corals are photosynthesizing organisms, meaning they use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Without coral reefs, oxygen would be limited and humans could not survive on this planet for very long. Coral reefs are always found underwater, and they primarily thrive in areas near the equator. They require temperatures between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius
REASONS FOR CONCERN ABOUT THE HEALTH OF CORAL REEFS Coral reefs and the species that dwell in them offer a wide variety of economic and environmental benefits. In 2003, researchers estimated the global economic value of coral reefs to be $29.8 billion. That value stems from the wealth of ecosystem services reefs provide. Whether through tourism or fishing, roughly 30 million people worldwide are “largely dependent on … reefs for their livelihoods.” Reef-related tourism benefits at least 94 countries
Significance of Coral Reefs 30 May 2014 Coral reefs are a wondrous, colorful haven for an abundant array of marine plant and animal species. Many people have described them as the “rainforests of the seas” because of the biodiversity found in and around these precious ecosystems. On November 22, 1996, President Clinton gave remarks on the International Coral Reef Initiative in Australia. In his speech he stated, “Pollution, overfishing, and overuse have put many of our unique reefs at risk. Their disappearance
out of it. So how exactly does a manufactured reef provide humans with benefits? In many ways that some may not even believe are possible, such as improving surfing conditions. Artificial reefs can create better waves for surfing, and it was proven that they can create longer riding waves, according to the Regional Coastal Process WAVE. Of course, those who aren’t surfers may not care all that much if there are better waves to surf. However, man made reefs are shown to increase tourism. Chuck Adams
that interested me are the coral reef and deep ocean. Both the coral reef and deep ocean are very different from each other, having varied ways of survival for the plethora of plants and animals that call those places home. In the coral reef habitat, food consumption is based on sunlight. The sunlight gives food to the plants, bacteria and algae, which is eaten by the plant eaters or herbivores, such as parrotfishes. The bigger carnivores, such as the Whitetip Reef Shark, in the ecosystem
have a very large effect on the ecosystems of coral reefs. Sensitivity of coral reefs causes them to be more susceptible to harmful anthropogenic practices. Some of these are sedimentation, global warming, recreational activities, poison fishing, blast fishing practices, water pollution, and coral mining. All of these very different practices can effectively end up with the same results; the mortality of coral reefs around the world. Coral reefs are an important ecosystem of the world, and support
Coral reefs have been around for more than 400 million year ago! They found fossils around that time. Reefs are extremely ancient and are evolving “into modern reef building.” Coral reefs are very unique in there color to how many different marine life Coral reefs have a history too! I bet you didn’t know that coral reefs and sea anemones are related!? They share the same structure, the polyp. A polyp are “tiny, soft-bodied organisms related to sea anemones and jellyfish.” The structure has a mouth
is affecting coral reefs today. The careless acts of everyday people are endangering the lives of coral reefs; however; with proper conservation and awareness theses reefs can be saved. Located in warm shallow waters coral reefs can be found near the coasts of paradise. Although theses reefs are composed of mainly calcium carbonate skeletons of dead coral animals they create a protective exoskeleton which protects the thousands of species living within it (Coral, 2007). Reefs are filled with vibrant